The three-day conference, held from March 5 to 7, brought together around 600 participants from India and several other countries, including mental health professionals, neuropsychologists, neuroscientists and psychology students. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO
Experts at the International Conference on Clinical Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience (I-CNCNC 2026) at NIMHANS on Thursday highlighted the urgent need to connect engineering, technology and life sciences to advance brain health and cognitive science research.
Opening the conference, Subrata Rakshit, former Director General (Technology Management) of the Defense Research and Development Organization, emphasized the importance of integrating engineering, artificial intelligence and life sciences to better understand brain functions such as memory, attention, cognition and neuroplasticity.
He noted that such interdisciplinary collaboration could play a key role in shaping future educational technologies and improving education systems by promoting more active and adaptive learning environments.
The role of cognitive neuroscience
Organized by the Department of Clinical Psychology, the conference was opened by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who highlighted the role of cognitive neuroscience and multidisciplinary research in strengthening mental health care systems.
He also highlighted growing public health concerns over excessive use of social media and said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had initiated discussions with experts on ways to regulate its excessive use among the youth.
Neuropsychological practices
Experts suggest that it is important to integrate engineering, AI and the biological sciences to better understand brain function. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
NIMHANS Director Pratima Murthy spoke about the institute’s interdisciplinary legacy and the importance of holistic neuropsychological practices. She said neuropsychology plays an important role not only in neurological conditions but also in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and behavioral addictions related to social media.
She also highlighted the potential of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of various mental and neurological conditions.
Conference Chair Jamuna Rajeswaran, Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology at NIMHANS, spoke about the evolving academic landscape in neuroscience and its expanding applications across clinics, communities, schools and rehabilitation facilities.
The need for a licensing framework
Secretary of the organization Shantala Hegde emphasized the need to strengthen training systems and create adequate licensing frameworks for clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists in India. She also called for a stronger multidisciplinary approach to improving neuropsychological care.
The three-day conference, held from March 5 to 7, brought together around 600 participants from India and several other countries, including mental health professionals, neuropsychologists, neuroscientists and psychology students.
Published – 05 March 2026 20:03 IST
